38 Best Skin-Care Products For Acne of All Time

SkinMedica Even and Correct Dark Spot Cream ($88)

If you're in need of some major brightening, from acne scars or sun spots, the SkinMedica Even and Correct Dark Spot Cream will do the trick. It contains lotus sprout, tranexamic acid, and niacinamide, working together to fade hyperpigmentation. It's also a 2023 POPSUGAR Beauty Award winner.

I Dew Care Fix My Zit Salicylic Acid Acne Gel ($23)

It's hard to find an acne gel that works on deep, underground zits, but the I Dew Care Fix My Zit Salicylic Acid Acne Gel does it all. With salicylic acid and citrus unshiu peel, this treatment works in a matter of days. It's also a 2023 POPSUGAR Beauty Award winner.

Peace Out Acne Dots ($19)

If you're someone who has a habit of picking at your pimples, you need the Peace Out Acne Dots. They keep you from touching your zits so they heal faster and help prevent unnecessary scarring in the process. Put one on a whitehead before bed, and it'll draw out the pus while you sleep.

Murad InvisiScar Resurfacing Treatment ($38)

The top-rated Murad InvisiScar Resurfacing Treatment can work on both old and new acne marks, filling the pitted scars and leaving a smoother complexion in their wake. The product is clinically proven to minimize the look of scars' depth and texture and reduce discoloration in eight weeks.

Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum ($90)

The Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum is a resurfacing AHA serum that helps clear congested pores and reduces the appearance of acne marks and uneven texture.

Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Invisible Finish Moisture Gel ($33)

Slick on the light-as-air Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Invisible Finish Moisture Gel, and watch your pores shrink in size. This gel-like formula feels light on skin but is loaded with antioxidants and niacinamide, which actually improve texture over time.

Origins Clear Improvement Pore Clearing Moisturizer With Salicylic Acid ($40)

It's an oil-free moisturizer and an acne treatment. The Origins Clear Improvement Pore Clearing Moisturizer With Salicylic Acid can keep skin hydrated without any added ingredients likely to cause more oil buildup or breakouts. Its star ingredient is bamboo charcoal, a very fine powder that's created after bamboo stalks are burned at high temperatures, which also can absorb 100 times its weight in impurities.

Hero Cosmetics Rescue Balm ($13)

Picked your pimple? Have no fear: the Hero Cosmetics Rescue Balm is truly a lifesaver. It's like a first-aid ointment that melts into your skin and helps to heal damaged skin. After using it, within just a few days, the mark you made will be gone.

Skinceuticals Physical Matte UV Defense SPF 50 ($40)

The Skinceuticals Physical Matte UV Defense SPF 50 protects your complexion from the harmful rays of the sun with a noncomedogenic formula that'll keep you shine-free all day. Bonus: it makes a great primer for makeup.

Neutrogena Stubborn Acne Morning Treatment ($14)

The Neutrogena Stubborn Acne Morning Treatment uses 2.5 percent benzoyl peroxide to kill acne-causing bacteria. Unlike some acne treatments, it can be used in the morning to help reduce acne during the hours that follow.

Topicals Faded ($38)

The Topicals Faded is designed to target stubborn acne scars and hyperpigmentation. It has a gel-like texture and is packed with a variety of skin-loving ingredients, including inflammatory-fighting centella asiatica leaf extract and licorice root, kojic acid (a gentle exfoliator), and the powerful brightening ingredient, niacinamide.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo Dual Action Acne Treatment ($45)

You used to have to visit your dermatologist to get a prescription for a topical treatment as good as the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo Dual Action Acne Treatment ($45), but not anymore. It contains 5.5 percent benzoyl peroxide to target pimples without being too irritating on the skin.

Kiehl's Since 1851 Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution ($65)

Say hello to a brighter, more even complexion with the help of the Kiehl's Since 1851 Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution. The hyperpigmentation-fighting serum can be used both morning and night.

Hero Cosmetics Shield Superlight Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 30 ($24)

There's a misconception that sunscreen makes you break out, when in reality, you just need to find the right formula. The Hero Cosmetics Shield Superlight Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 30 is designed with acne-prone skin types in mind with its lightweight, noncomedogenic formula.

Burt's Bees Herbal Complexion Stick ($8)

Have you ever been out and about when suddenly you feel a painful pimple forming under the skin? The Burt's Bees Herbal Complexion Stick is designed for those moments. The tea tree oil-infused complexion stick features an easy, hands-free applicator so you can treat the spot immediately rather than wait until you get home.

The Inkey List Succinic Acid Acne Treatment ($10)

Formulated with succinic acid, a lesser-known acne-fighting ingredient, The Inkey List Succinic Acid Acne Treatment is both anti-inflammatory and antibacterial.

Renée Rouleau Rapid Response Detox Masque ($66)

The shimmery, yellow color of the Renée Rouleau Rapid Response Detox Masque makes it look like a pot of gold — and as far as we're concerned, it is. The refreshing, gel formula of the mask both hydrates and fights acne.

Versed Back-Up Plan Acne-Control Body Mist ($18)

The Versed Back-Up Plan Acne-Control Body Mist banishes acne on your body with an easy-to-use 360-degree spray nozzle. And no, it doesn't leave you with that gross, sticky feeling after.

Ole Henriksen Cold Plunge Pore Mask ($41)

The Ole Henriksen Cold Plunge Pore Mask simulates the feeling of sticking your face in a cold bucket of water — in a really good way. The mask gets deep into your pores to absorb oil and dirt without making your skin feel tight.

LightStim for Acne ($169)

Blue LED light has been found to help promote clear skin by killing acne-causing bacteria before it reaches the surface. The LightStim for Acne is a handheld wand that targets acne and reduces inflammation with a short, three-minute treatment.

CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser ($19)

The CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser is formulated with a blend of acne-fighting benzoyl peroxide and skin-nourishing ceramides to help clear breakouts without being too harsh.

Tula The Cult Classic Purifying Face Cleanser ($34)

As its name suggests, the Tula The Cult Classic Purifying Face Cleanser is a cult favorite. The gentle gel face wash removes dirt and oil from the surface of your skin without stripping it of moisture.

Mario Badescu Skincare Drying Lotion ($17)

We've sworn by the Mario Badescu Skincare Drying Lotion since middle school. The formula has a superhero-like ability to shrink a formidable breakout in mere hours.

Vivant Skincare Mandelic Acid 3-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser ($28)

Not only do we swear by the Vivant Skincare Mandelic Acid 3-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser for our keratosis pilaris, but it's also an effective remedy for bacne and butt blemishes. Just be warned: the formula is strong and may irritate your skin upon first use.

Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1% Acne Treatment ($18)

The beauty of the Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1% Acne Treatment is that it helps with hyperpigmentation from old pimples, as well as decongests pores to prevent new ones. Just note: it's a powerful treatment, so start off slowly with application once a week and work your way up to every other or every day.

Peter Thomas Roth PRO Strength Microdermabrasion Blackhead Eliminator ($68)

The gritty paste of the Peter Thomas Roth PRO Strength Microdermabrasion Blackhead Eliminator hits breakouts with triple-action exfoliation. The combination of chemical, enzymatic, and physical exfoliation removes dirt from deep within your pores.

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant ($34)

If you're looking for a product that will unlock brighter, smoother skin while also keeping breakouts from popping up, try the Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant.

First Aid Beauty Pharma Calamine Pore Purging Mask ($30)

The First Aid Beauty Pharma Calamine Pore Purging Mask sucks your pores clean without drying out your skin. This is all thanks to two types of clay, kaolin and bentonite, that absorb oil and dirt.

Dr. Zenovia Aloe Vera Blemish Soothing Moisturizer ($38)

It's a myth that acne-prone skin doesn't require a moisturizer — it just needs the right product. The Dr. Zenovia Aloe Vera Blemish Soothing Moisturizer helps hydrate your skin, smooth uneven texture, and soothe redness and irritation from acne breakouts all at once.

Bioassance Squalane + BHA Pore Minimizing Toner ($30)

Apply some of the Bioassance Squalane + BHA Pore Minimizing Toner onto a cotton pad, and swipe it over your skin to get the benefits of gentle, pore-clearing chemical exfoliation. It also contains squalane, which helps hydrate the skin.

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% ($6)

Niacinamide, the hero ingredient in The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%, helps treat active breakouts, as well as brighten skin tone and smooth uneven texture.

Dr. Dennis Gross DRx Blemish Solutions Acne Eliminating Gel ($42)

Whether you're dealing with maskne or hormonal breakouts, the Dr. Dennis Gross DRx Blemish Solutions Acne Eliminating Gel will help clear it up with a blend of two-percent salicylic acid, niacinamide, and monk's pepper. The lightweight gel absorbs quickly and wears well under makeup.

Cetaphil Gentle Clear Mattifying Acne Moisturizer With 0.5% Salicylic Acid ($11)

Keep oil at bay all day long with the Cetaphil Gentle Clear Mattifying Acne Moisturizer With 0.5% Salicylic Acid. It not only keeps you shine-free, but salicylic acid in the formula also helps fight breakouts.

Perricone MD Acne Relief Maximum Strength Spot Gel ($15)

The Perricone MD Acne Relief Maximum Strength Spot Gel is a favorite among editors and Amazon shoppers alike. The tube may be tiny, but a little bit goes a long way because of how potent it is.

Clinique Moisture Surge 100 Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator ($28)

The oil-free, noncomedogenic formula of the Clinique Moisture Surge 100 Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator makes it great for those with acneic skin. The beauty of this moisturizer is it doesn't contain acne-fighting ingredients, so you don't have to worry about it causing any irritation when used with your other acne treatments.

Clean & Clear Advantage Spot Treatment With Witch Hazel ($10)

Simply dab a little bit of the Clean & Clear Advantage Spot Treatment With Witch Hazel onto an active breakout, and watch it start to disappear before your eyes.

Dermalogica Clearing Skin Wash ($42)

The Dermalogica Clearing Skin Wash, formulated with salicylic acid, fights breakouts before they happen. What's more, green tea in the cleanser helps calm irritation and menthol provides your skin with a cooling sensation.

PanOxyl Anti-Microbial Acne Foaming Wash With 10% Benzoyl Peroxide ($12)

The PanOxyl Anti-Microbial Acne Foaming Wash With 10% Benzoyl Peroxide is a powerful, acne-blasting cleanser that has maximum-strength benzoyl peroxide. It's great for your face, chest, and back.